Executive Perks on the Decline

When asked “In the current economic climate, which perk
are you least likely to offer executive-level job
candidates?” 1,400 CFOs polled by
Robert Half Management Resources said most likely
to be trimmed were stock options (17%), followed
by:

13% – signing bonuses

11% – performance bonuses

7% – extra vacation days

5% – corporate perks with job offers.

Eighteen percent said they did not know.

SHRM Study

The results of Robert Half’s poll echo earlier finds
by theSociety for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
SHRM found that as benefit costs went up in the past year,
non-health-care benefits have declined (See
Costs Up, Benefits Down in 2003
). For example, the SHRM survey notes that new hire
referral bonuses, executive and non-executive sign on
bonuses, and stock options have all decreased for 2003.
Additionally, matching charitable contributions and spot
bonuses each dropped 10%, while stock purchase plans fell
8% in 2003. Other decreases were noted by SHRM in:

flextime, which is now offered by 55%, compared
with 64% that offered the benefit in 2002

professional memberships, while still common,
dropped to 85% from 89%

just 26% now offered food services or
subsidized cafeterias, compared with 29% a year
ago